American Go E-Journal » Your Move: Readers Write

GO FOR THE BLIND: In response to a recent EJ classified inquiry about blind go, a reader referred us to the British Go Association’s Go for the Blind page, which contains information on playing blind go and pictures of special go sets.

MISSING MEIJIN GAME: “I’ve been studying the Meijin matches sent through the E-Journal for this year’s title,” writes reader David Lang. Is there a reason why the 5th match never came with the E-Journal? Perhaps I missed it.” See attached; click here to download all five Meijin games.

SHIBUMI THE MOVIE?: ”I was wondering if Shibumi the movie had ever been made,” writes Heidi. “I have a friend named after the character in that book, and I’d love to get him a copy for his birthday.” According to an undated entry on Trevanian.com. “Shibumi will be turned into a movie by Warners some time soon. The project is well advanced and filming will begin soon.” While the authoritative and comprehensive Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has no reference at all to a movie version of the novel, which features go-playing assassin Nicholas Hel, the New York Times website does, listing Keanu Reeves as playing Hel, Warner Brothers as the studio and five screenwriters but no director. All in all, a bit of a mystery. Trevanian – who died in 2005 – would have been pleased.

FINDING SUNSHINE: “Greetings from the Japan Alps national park,” writes Roger Schrag, Bay area go organizer. “Had a great evening with Kaz, what a truly nice guy! Visited Nihon Kiin, Sunshine Go Club, and Ueno Go Center.” Schrag will be in Japan for two more weeks and promises a full report upon his return. Meanwhile, here’s popular EJ contributor Kaz Furuyama’s directions to the Sunshine Go Club, which the EJ reported on back in May (THE TRAVELING BOARD: The Sunshine Go Club): the club is open from 12 noon to 9p weekdays and Saturday, and noon to 8p Sundays; the club is in Sunshine Building, a 60 story-building in Ikebukuro, “But inside the building, it’s rather tricky to get there,” Kaz says. “If you speak Japanese, you could ask a person at the information desk at Sunshine Building how to get there.” The club’s phone number is 03-3989-3515. email Kaz for further details at cickazu@gmail.com

“Pardon me, but ‘Swiss-Australian border’?” (Go Makes Linux Mag 12/16 EJ) writes Dave Tukey. “I didn’t know global warming was moving the continents around to this extent. Or have the Swiss invaded the Outback?”Neither, as far as we know; make that the Swiss-Austrian border. Our apologies for the error and thanks to everyone who wrote in to point it out. Photographer David Cantrell also sent in this update: “In the absence of any go-playing Austrians or Swiss in our group, Switzerland was represented by Edwin Brady (2k) and Austria by me (13k),” said Cantrell. “It was a nine stone game, and Switzerland won convincingly. Which I thought was very un-neutral of them. All of the recent Linuxbierwanderungs have included go-playing, and over the years I’ve introduced a good dozen people from all over the world to the game, at least some of whom now play regularly. Geeky social events like this are a great way of introducing new people to the game.”

“Pardon me, but ‘Swiss-Australian border’?” (Go Makes Linux Mag 12/16 EJ) writes Dave Tukey. “I didn’t know global warming was moving the continents around to this extent. Or have the Swiss invaded the Outback?” Neither, as far as we know; make that the Swiss-Austrian border. Our apologies for the error and thanks to everyone who wrote in to point it out. Photographer David Cantrell also sent in this update: “In the absence of any go-playing Austrians or Swiss in our group, Switzerland was represented by Edwin Brady (2k) and Austria by me (13k),” said Cantrell. “It was a nine stone game, and Switzerland won convincingly. Which I thought was very un-neutral of them. All of the recent Linuxbierwanderungs have included go-playing, and over the years I’ve introduced a good dozen people from all over the world to the game, at least some of whom now play regularly. Geeky social events like this are a great way of introducing new people to the game.”

“Thanks, E-Journal!” writes Bob Barber. “I listed my collection of Go World magazines here, and was able to sell them to one of your many readers, this one in Argentina.” Buy, sell, or trade go stuff, plus find go players through the EJ’s free classifieds: email us today at journal@usgo.org

BLACKBERRY GO? “Is there software for recording games on a Blackberry?” wonders Bill. Let us know at journal@usgo.org

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: “Can you give me and name and contact for the Palo Alto and Menlo Park go clubs?” writes Joy. “We live nearby and my son is playing go online and is interested in a club.” Click here to quickly locate go clubs across the country.